Process and Outcome Evaluation of an Agricultural Crime Prevention Initiative

• NCJ Number: 217999
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 51-80
• Date Published: March 2007
• Author(s): Daniel P. Mears; Michelle L. Scott; Avinash S. Bhati
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2003-DD-BX-1017
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

Findings are presented from a process and outcome evaluation of the Agricultural Crime, Technology, Information, and Operations Network (ACTION) crime prevention initiative in California.

Abstract

The process and outcome evaluation results suggest that the Agricultural Crime, Technology, Information, and Operations Network (ACTION) program holds the potential to reduce crime and to improve the ability of law enforcement agents to identify, arrest, and prosecute suspects. In addition, the results suggest that in areas where the program has been aggressively implemented, farmers respond by taking more crime prevention efforts, and that these in turn may reduce crime. The results underscore the importance of taking a broad view of program effectiveness and including diverse measures of impact. Specific evidence from the analysis includes: (1) higher program dose is positively associated with agricultural crime victimization; (2) this general pattern holds across many types of victimization; (3) dose is positively associated with intermediate outcomes consisting of a range of farmer-undertaken crime prevention steps; and (4) the effects of dose on the end outcomes are largely explained by the IPOs. Agriculture remains a central pillar of American society, and yet the study of agricultural crime, such as the theft of equipment, livestock, crops, and chemicals remains rare. However, ACTION seems to be the only exception. Drawing on data from a study funded by the National Institute of Justice, results are presented from a process and outcome evaluation of ACTION. Tables, notes, and references